Stabilizing device for steering knuckles



Oct. 20, 1931. P. E. MATTHEWS 1,828,425

STABILIZING DEVICE FOR STEERING KNUCKLES Filed Dec. 19. 1929 awumto'c 33 abtom ww w worn.

Patented Oct. 20, 1 931 r PATENT orrice RHILIP ATT E S. or rLAmrInLn; NEW annsnx assreivon. To IN RNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, on NEW or N. a conronarro v or DELAWARE 'srma n zme DEVICE FOR {STEERING KnucKnEs 1 Application filed December 19, 1929. Serial No. 415,232.

Thevpresent tnvention relates to. steering mechanisms and embodies, more specifically,

an improved steering mechanism which is s constructed that. the steering of the. vehicle fi is greatlytacilitated, at the same time stabihzingthe mechanism. and preventing the objectionablewefiiects of shimmying orthe front wheels as lirequently isthe caselwhen the. bushings .of steering mechanisms become It is now well recognized that-the force required to steer a .VBhIClQC-lll be materially reduced; byvmounting: the steering knuckles through anti-friction bearings. Such mounting, however, has the disadvantage of i increasing front wheel. shimmy since suchshimmy is influenced and, in a degree, controlled by the friction in the steering mechanism. VJhenthe caris new and its bearings and 'j'oints close fitting, shimmy is ""fiq'not noticeable, b'utas soon as wear'takes place, there is a marke'd tendency toward such condition the-front wheels." As a remedy for this condition, it lias beensuggested to increase the triction ofthe steering linkage.

"Qs In existing designs, the devices for increasing the friction" ii -the; steering; linkage have beenfound to be objectionable and ineii'e'ctive to reduce, suifici'ently the front wheel shimmy. The reason for the-above is that the damping Q friction'isnot applied to the mechanism sutliciently-close to there gion-where the shimmy originates; Usually the friction device is either connectedltothe cross steering tubeor drag'link, such location rendering the device i-nettective to prevent shimmy by reason of freedom ofmovement or play in the steering knuckle or cross steering tube joints.

As a further-consideration, it isimportant that thedamping friction should be elfec'tive only when thewlieels are in a straight ahead position, since there is no tendency to shimmy during turning of the wheels and since the turning oi the wheels should preferably require a minimum; effort. v

-An'object of the invention, accordingly, is "t'o provli'de a device for preventing shimmy where the tendenoy for such action originates.

'A further object ofthe invention istopro- 'videsa device for efiectivelyeliminating the SOishimmy. insteering mechanisms which. can be applied toexisting forms. of mechanisms withei t changing the design thereof.

A further obj ectot the. invention, is to, pro.- vide a, device which preserves the easy steeringqualities of a steering machanism embodyi-ng anti-friction bearings at the same time, preventing sl-iinimy therein.

A further object 'o ifthe invention; isto provide a device 01f the above character which prevents shimmy when the wheels are in a 1 steering knuckle constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

Figure 2: 1s a segmental view, similar to Figure 1, showing the steering knuckle atter having been turned from the position. shown in Figure 1. V

Figure 31s a view; in: section, taken on line of; Figure 2, and looking in the directon of the arrows. I

Figure 4 is a VIEW in; section, taken on line 0t Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the above drawings-a: indicates the front axle of a motor vehicle carrying. a wheel: sp ndle b WhlCllilSill'lOLlIlllQd. upon a knucklec; A knuckle pin (5 mounts: the

knuckle upon the axle a and is formed with. a

plurality of splines. d. at the upper: end thereof. V l a Lhe knuckle cis formed with a housing 0 Within which a plurality of radial notches c f extend. Discs care-formed with, peripheral slots eto engage the tongue'c and thus cause the discs to be moved with the steering knuckle 0. Centrally ofthe discs, apertures.

therein are t'ormed to receive the upper portion of the knuckle pin 01 andpermit relative movement, therebetween. I

Blates'f are formed; with? inwardlyextending'tongues f to. engage the splinesad and cause the plates 7 to be moved with the knuckle pin d. A flat spring 9 mounts the plates and discs under a degree of compression and is seated against the upper plate It 5 which engages the tongues c of the housing and is turned therewith. Axial cams h are formed on the disc 72 and are engagedby similarly formed cams 2" which are formed upon a collar 2' splined upon knuckle pin d.

A closure 7' is provided for the housing and mounted over the collar 71, a nut is being threaded over the protruding end of the knuckle pin d to place the spring 9 under a desired degree of compression and maintain the cams h and i in engagement. In order to facilitate such adjustment projections 3" are formed on the housing y to engage cooperating recesses in the nut 70. In this manner the amount of friction between the plates is readily adjusted and the friction in both knuckles easily equalized. The spring pressure can easily be determined by counting the number of clicks of the adjusting nut and the proper adjustment of the mechanism is thus readily maintained. v

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a desired degree of friction, suflicient to prevent shimmying of the front wheels may be maintained between the knuckle pins and steering knuckles when the vehicle is moving in a straight ahead direction. Upon turning of the wheels, the foregoing friction is immediately reduced, if not substantially eliminated and the steering thus materially facilitated. The damping friction is applied at the correct points, that is, where it will be most effective to reduce and eliminate front wheel shimmy and the steering mechanism may embody anti-friction bearings.

\Vhile the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended claims. 7

I claim as my invention: 7

1. A device of the character described comprising relatively movable steering elements, a housing formed on one of the elements, discs carried by the housing, the other element being co-axial to the housing and discs, cooperating discs carried by the second element and spaced between the first discs, means to urge the discs together, a plate carried by the first element and serving as a seat for the means to urge the discs together, a plurality of cams disposed annularly, a plurality of cooperating cams annularly disposed and normally engaging the first cams, a cover for the housing, and adjustable means on the cover for maintaining the discs under compression through the cams.

2. A device of the character described comprising relatively movable steering elements, a housing formed on one of the elements, discs carried by the housing, the other element be- 6 ing co-axial to the housing and discs, coopcrating discs carried by the second element and spaced between the first discs, means to urge the discs together, a plate carried by the first element and serving as a seat for the means to urge the discs together, a plurality of cams disposed annularly, a plurality of cooperating cams annularly disposed and normally engaging the first cams, a cover for the housing, and meansto secure the cover in position and maintain the discs-under compression.

3. A device of the character described comprising relatively'movable steering elements, a housing formed on one of the elements, discs carried by the housing, the other element being co-axial to the housing and discs, cooperating discs carriedvby the second element and spaced between the first discs, means to urge the discs together, aaplate carried by the first element and serving as a seat for the means to urge the discs together a plurality of cams disposed annularly, an

a pluralityofcooperating cams annularly disposed and normally engaging the first cams. a 90 4. A device of the character described comprising relatively movable steering elements, a housing formed on one of the elements, discs carried by the housing, the other element being co-axial to the housing and discs, cooper- 8 ating discs carried by the second element and i spaced between the first discs, means to urge the discs together, a plate carried by the first element and serving as a seat for the means to urge the discs together, an annular cam 1 00 carried on the plate, and a cooperating annular cam on the second element normally engaging the first cam.

5. A device of the character described comprising relatively movable steering elements los a housing formed on one of the elements, discs carried by the housing, the other element being co-axial to the housing and discs, cooperating discs carried by the second elefment and spaced between the first discs, meansglo to urge the discs together, a plate carried by the first element and serving as a seat for the means to urge the discs'together, a cam carried on the plate, a cooperating cam carried by the second element and normally engaging the first cam when the elements are in a normal position, and means to adjust the pressure exerted on the plates by the urging means. 7 y

6. A device of the character described comprising relatively movable steering elements, i

a housing formed on one of the elements, discs carried by the housing, the other element being co-axial to the housing and discs,cooperating discs carried by the second element and; spaced between the first discs, means to urge the discs together, a plate carried by the first element and serving as a seat for the means to urge the discstogether, a cam carried on the plate, and a cooperating cam carried by thei'1 second element and normally engaging the first cam when the elements are in a normal position. V

7. A device of the character described comprising relatively movable steering elements between which steering forces are transmitted, cooperating friction members carried by the respective elements, a plate carried by one of the elements and formed with an annular cam, a spring seated against the plate and 

